Abstract
In the last few decades many libraries, archives, museum or ephemeral exhibition were transformed in virtual experiences or digital formats due to their own preservation. Nevertheless digitalization is just the first step to preserve knowledge and original documentation to bring them to future generations. The challenge and potentiality of digital archives are to make materials – otherwise destined to wither away or disappear – searchable, accessible, available and durable. The paper is intended to present the Aspi - Archivio storico della psicologia italiana (Historical Archive of Italian Psychology) as a pilot experience of an open, sustainable and accessible documental centre for researchers, historians, archivists, psychologists, PhD or bachelor students as well as other specialists or public interested in original documents, history and protagonists of Italian psychology. The Aspi – established in 2005 as an interdepartmental centre at the University of Milano-Bicocca and now part of PASt (Historic Archive Centre) – is now facing the challenge to become the national on line knowledge-base and reference point of Mind Science documentation. Among the key points of the project are the cross-navigation paths based on the skills and knowledge shared by historians, curators and archivists; the serendipity of discovering associations between the protagonists and further personal or professional relationships; the searchability of manuscript – transcribed or synthesized - and the remote access to date and material not physically stored in the same place.